Black people don't know this law of tax - Malema

Johannesburg - The provisional sequestration order against EFF leader Julius Malema does not affect his party, he said on Monday.

"I formed this party with this matter in existence," Malema told journalists outside the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.

"One million-plus people voted for this party knowing that the leader of this party is owing Sars."

The court earlier extended the provisional order against him to 1 December.

The Economic Freedom Fighters' (EFF) leader and MP said many people owed the SA Revenue Service (Sars) money, including Members of Parliament.

"If we were to do an audit in that Parliament, especially on the ANC side, you'll be shocked, partly because black people, we do not know this law of tax," Malema said.

"We are new to it, and we are trying to adjust and comply as it were. All of them, if they were to open their books, [it's] a mess.

"That's why when they [other parties] talk about my Sars matter, they go not full blown, they go halfway, because they know 'Eh! I've got a similar problem myself'."

He said were it a requirement that prospective MPs produce a tax clearance certificate, many would not qualify.

"It's not a unique matter. Some of you here [the media], you are even owing Sars. It's not the same amount as mine. Maybe yours is R10 000 or R20 000 but you are owing," Malema said.

"So Sars, it's a permanent problem if you are a taxpayer. You are always in conflict with Sars and try to settle. We learn from our mistakes and we must do better going forward."

He said by 1 December, he would have paid Sars R4m, on top of those of his assets Sars had sold.

"So, by the first of December I would have paid R4m. So far I have paid almost R2m. With this month [August] going to an end, it will be R2.5 [million]," Malema said.

"I would have paid them their money, and then they must back off."

Malema previously admitted he had not attended to his tax affairs the way the law required. According to court papers, Malema owed Sars R16m, plus interest, after failing to submit tax returns between 2006 and 2010.

In February, Judge Bill Prinsloo ordered that Malema's estate be provisionally sequestrated.

A final sequestration order would affect Malema's political career, as he would no longer be allowed to serve as an MP.